Scott, I had read about the one in Connecticut last week. Other than that, I haven't kept up much, othern than knowing they didn't think the Tulsa one was an escaped pet. I hadn't heard it likely was from the Black Hills. I have been following the bear news in Texas, where they are coming out of the wild and into some towns in western parts of the state to raid dumpsters and bird feeders and such. We are feeding and watering a lot of deer here and I just this week moved their feeding area about 50 yards further away from the house than it already was because coyotes are showing up. I didn't want coyotes too close to the house and our domestic pets. Overall, I am seeing less and less wildlife every week even though we are maintaining several watering areas and 3 feeding areas to try to help them stay alive. We do, however, have the biggest possum I've ever seen. It is as big as the largest raccoon I've ever seen, and I've seen some really big raccoons. I'm having trouble with hawks swooping down into the yard trying to get our chickens and kittens. Can't do anything about the hawks, so I'm just trying to keep the chickens put up in the chicken run (it has a fencing top over it to keep the hawks out), which ruins the chickens' grasshopper chasing and eating, and have moved all the kittens into the guest room, where they mostly are hiding in the closet. If any predator larger than a coyote is roaming our property, I don't want to know about it. I am worried about feral pigs. They have been an issue in the river bottom lands for years, and some years have been a problem for ranchers out west. They've only been on our property once---during the drought of 2005-2006, and I believe they were here in July-August '06 mostly wallowing in a deep hole that still had water in our creek after the running part of the creek went dry. I'm thinking that since the creek, including the deep hole, is long dry this year, maybe they'll stay away. Dawn

CG, I'm glad you don't have MY luck! If it had been me - that door would've landed on me. Seriously - it would have waited till just the right moment, then SMASH! I'm literally an accident waiting to happen. (Really - I had wind, the only "gust" that day, blow a full sheet of plywood onto me.. Hit me in the back of the head!). I'm so glad to hear that I'm not the first person to do this type of thing - thanks, all - for sharing your stories. Carol - I read about your flooded house in another post - I'm so sorry for you, glad it was a rental & not your home - but a disaster is a disaster, taking your work, time & money that I'm sure you have other plans for. Brickeyee - that's exactly what I'm worried about! I only know enough to know that I don't "know enough". This is going to be... Interesting, at best. Oh well, ceiling needs painted anyway. I've never finished drywall, & I realize the texture-matching is going to be a bear. I'm (almost) 5'3", so a ceiling is the LAST place I'd choose to start learning. However - it could be worse. I could've actually broken my femur... & it could still be too hot for jeans, forcing me to explain why the entire back & side of my thigh is black/purple, to perfect strangers that would inevitably ask. (& I would start making up different crazy stories, each time, but it'd be hard to come up with a story more crazy than the truth - I fell through the ceiling? Who'd believe that?).

I attended a talk on Citrus Greening by Dr Jude Grosser, Univ. of Florida, that was held in January by the Tampa Bay Rare Fruit Council. He said that they were still working on several different methods to get rid of or control Citrus Greening and gave us some examples of the research being done. One thing he did mention is that they have seen numerous examples of trees that were on the decline due to citrus greening that were brought back with very heavy fertilization schedules. The heavy fertilization did not get rid of the citrus greening but it allowed the tree to withstand the disease and continue producing a good harvest of fruit. A couple of the minor trace elements appeared to play a significant role in mitigating the effects of citrus greening. I recall Boron being one, can't remember the second. He said they working on producing a fertilizer for sale to the public that would have the trace elements in the correct proportion. So, the recommendation in the meantime was if you are not ready to get rid of your sick citrus tree/s, start fertilizing frequently and heavily and give it a chance to recover.

Sealavender - congrats on your new little bird! He is a cutie! I have three of these little guys and they are so endearing. If you dont have much time to spend with him, you might consider another budgie so he has a pal. These guys travel in large flocks and really crave the company of other parakeets. My first parakeet (Pip) was found outside by a friend. Eventually, I bought him a buddie (Sky) and the difference in his personality was amazing! It as clear he was craving a friend. Since budgies are very active animals, I bought them a double flight cage. They use every inch of that cage. Pip passed away recently, after 8 years. I found Petuniae on craigslist, living in a very tiny cage and with a smoker to keep Sky company. Petuniae is a boy, but because of his mutation he looks like a girl. Luke was found flying around town (I named him after Luke Skywalker as he was flying the galaxy). Luke wasnt in great condition, but boy is he a cheeky little fella now. Sky: Luke, Sky, and Petuniae’s cage (I cover one side to shade from sun): Busy body Luke (right) and Sky: Tiny Petuniae: Pip and Sky: Sky: Pip and SKy were best friends (RIP Pip):